First Oz drive: Avenger muscles in on medium turf
BY JAMES STANFORD | 17th Aug 2007
Unmasked for the Australian market in New Zealand last week, the Dodge Avenger’s testosterone-fuelled exterior styling is clearly linked to the American Charger muscle-car.
But underneath its powerful-looking steel shell, the Avenger is very much a standard four-door sedan running the same mechanicals as the Chrysler Sebring, which is positioned as a slightly more premium model.
The major difference is that, unlike the Sebring, the Avenger runs a smaller 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine for the base model, a move that allows it to slip below the $30,000 mark.
The base Avenger sits above the most affordable mid-sized models including the Hyundai Sonata ($25,990), Toyota Camry ($28,000) and Holden Epica ($25,990), and just below base versions of the Mazda6 ($29,990), Subaru Liberty (31,990) and the Honda Accord VTi ($30,490).
The Avenger’s pumped-out wheel-arches, hard edges and exaggerated shoulder lines give the car a much bolder look than many of its rivals.
“There isn’t a car in this segment that looks this tough – finally a car the consumer won’t feel embarrassed driving,” said Chrysler Group Australia managing director Gerry Jenkins.
As well as the 2.0-litre engine, the Avenger is available with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol which is used in a range of Chrysler Group products including the Sebring, Dodge Caliber and Jeep Patriot.
Teamed with a four-speed automatic only, the 2.4-litre petrol engine also uses variable valve timing and generates 125kW and 220Nm. The combination uses a bit more fuel than the smaller-capacity model, but is still no gas guzzler with a figure of 8.9L/100km.
Those who want a little more power will have to wait until next January, when Dodge introduces a 2.7-litre V6 version of the Avenger with 137kW and 256Nm. The six-cylinder also comes with a six-speed automatic.
The Avenger drives the front wheels and rests on a traditional set-up of MacPherson struts at the front and an independent multi-link configuration at the rear.
It has similar dimensions to its rivals, measuring 4850mm long, 1843mm wide and 1497mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2765mm.
The Avenger weighs between 1480kg and 1560kg depending on the model chosen and has a modest braked towing capacity of 1000kg.
Its steering is a power-assisted rack-and-pinion system, while the braking package includes ABS across the range.
Standard safety gear is impressive, including not only ESC, but also traction control and a full suite of airbags including driver front and side airbags and side curtain airbags.
The 2.0-litre Avenger is available only in SX trim at $28,290, while the 2.4-litre model is available as an SX or in premium SXT trim. The 2.4 SX costs $30,990 and the 2.4 SXT $34,990.
The SX models sit on 17-inch alloy wheels and come standard with a single CD sound system, electric windows, cruise control, air-conditioning and a chilled central storage bin.
Stepping up to the SXT adds 18-inch alloy wheels, six-CD sound, a trip computer, heated front seats with electronic adjustment for the driver, leather trim, premium sound system with Boston Acoustics speakers, front foglights, a tyre-pressure monitoring system and a cup-holder with a ceramic element that can chill or heat the contents.
The Avenger has 60/40-split folding rear seat and its boot offers 452 litres of cargo space. It also holds a space-saver spare wheel.
Options across the range include a sunroof and a top-line MyGig entertainment system with a 20gig hard-drive, 6.5-inch touch screen, satellite-navigation and DVD player.
| 2007 Dodge Avenger pricing: | |
| SX 2.0 (a) | $28,290 |
| SX 2.4 (a) | $30,990 |
| SXT 2.4 (a) | $34,990 |
| SXT 2.7 (a) | TBA |